RAPID CITY, S.D. – The Rapid City Planning Commission has voted to delay action on the city’s proposed data center ordinance until January 21st, 2027.
Commissioners approved the recommendation from Community Development staff, who requested additional time to revise the ordinance based on extensive public feedback gathered during a recent survey and open house process.
City officials received nearly 940 responses from residents, with comments addressing issues such as water and power usage, sewer capacity, noise, vibration, and where large-scale and micro data centers should be allowed within the city.
Planning staff say the extra time will be used to incorporate revisions and clarifications before bringing the proposal back for further review. Officials also plan to allow additional opportunities for public comment once changes have been made.
The ordinance was originally introduced to add safeguards to Rapid City’s existing data center regulations as the industry continues to expand nationwide. City leaders say the goal is to ensure the final regulations reflect community concerns and priorities before moving forward.
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